Filling machine



C. E. KERR FILLING MACHINE Nov. 1, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28,1958 INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR BY 241 M ATTORN EY Nov. 1, 1960 c. E. KERR2,958,346

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 E'IE Z:

HINVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR ATTORN EY Nov. 1, 1960 c. E. KERR 2,953,346

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 zIS 5,3}95

INVENTOR CHARLES E.KERR

sv lww ATTORNEY C. E. KERR FILLING MACHINE Nov. 1, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Jan. 28, 1958 INVENTOR CHARLES E. KERR BY W 6*. W

ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1960 c. E. KERR 2,958,346

FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1958 e Sheets-Sheet 5 TIE 11 INVENTORCHARLES E. KERR BY M ATTORNEY C. E. KERR FILLING MACHINE Nov. 1, 1960 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 28, 1958 mnfl m-Hrml NH m-H-H HI wtm o NPM aINVENTOR 7 CHARLES E.KERR

BY W 6:

WNM mNm E L n l ATTORNEY FILLING MACHINE Charles E. Kerr, Hoopeston,IIL, assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San Jose,Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 28, 1958, set. No. 711,659reclaims. or. 141-141 This invention appertains to machines for fillingcontainers with fluid and more particularly relates to an improvedfilling valve and a mechanism for operating the valve.

In one commercial automatic filling machine, each container to be filledis moved from a feed turret to a filling turret and positioned in apocket in the filling turret directly under one of a plurality of valvesthat are carried by the filling turret. Asthe container and itsassociated valve move along together on the filling turret, the valve isopened at a predetermined station to discharge a measured quantity ofliquid into the container. A valve actuating mechanism is positionedimmediately ahead of the valve opening station. This valve actuatingmechanism is arranged to be held in valve opening position by eachcontainer in a line of containers entering the turret. However, if anopening appears in the line of containers, the valve actuating mechanismis allowed to move to valve closing position and, accordingly, no liquidwill be discharged into the empty pocket in which the missing containerwould have been positioned. Such a mechanism is effective when theturret is operated relatively slowly. However, if the turret is operatedrapidly, the actuating mechanism can not return quickly enough to valveopening position and, accordingly, a container in the pocket next behindthe empty pocket will not be filled.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide amechanism for quickly and reliably actuating the valve of a fillingmachine.

Another object is to provide an improved filling machine.

Another object is to provide an improved filling valve for a fillingmachine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconnection with the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of the fillingmachine of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan, with parts broken away, of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of a container pusher mechanismand a portion of the valve actuating mechanism used in the machine ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the several identicalvalve assemblies used in the filling ma chine, said valve assembly beingshown mounted on the turret of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the valve assembly of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is another plan of the valve assembly with parts broken away andparts shown in different operating positions from the positions of Fig.6.

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a plan, with parts broken away, of a second embodiment of therotary filling machine of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a schematic, developed view of the cam mechanism used in themachine of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken along line 11 ]l1 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a front elevation of one of a plurality of identical valveassemblies used in the machine of Fig. 9, said valve assembly beingillustrated as mounted on the turret of the machine.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken along line 13l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken along line 14-14 of Fig. 12.

In Figures 1 and 2 the reference number 20 indicates a rotary fillingmachine in which the valve actuating mechanism of the present inventionis mounted. The machine 20 comprises a stationary base 21 in which ismounted a drive mechanism 22 adapted to be connected to a source ofpower (not shown). A tubular shaft 24, which is secured to a gear 25 ofthe drive mechanism, projects upwardly through the center of themachine, and a turret 36, which comprises an upper turret member 31 anda lower turret member 32, is keyed to the tubular shaft 24 by keys 33and 34.

Three brackets 40 (one only being shown) project vertically upwardlyfrom the base 21, and each of the brackets has a post 42 projectingupwardly from its upper end. An annular, container support table 44 issupported in fixed position on the upper end of the three posts 42, anda pair of guide rails 46 and 47 are supported by brackets 45 which aresecured to the table.

The upper turret member 31 includes a central tubular portion 50, aslanted web 51, and an outer support ring 52. A plurality of equallyspaced cylinders 53 (two only being shown in Fig. 1) are secured inopenings 54 (Fig. 5) in the outer support ring 52 by clamp rings 55 and56, each of which engages an annular flange 57 on one of the cylindersand is secured by machine screws (not shown) to the ring 52. Eachcylinder 53 has a piston 59 slidably disposed therein and has adischarge port 62 communicating with a passage 63 in the support ring 52which, in turn, communicates with a passage 64 in a valve assembly 65,to be described presently. A reservoir 66 (Fig. l) for liquid isprovided above the turret, said reservoir being defined by a cylindricalwall 67, the web 51 and the outer support ring 52. Each cylinder 53 isin direct communication with the reservoir approximately from the timeit passe a position indicated by reference letter B in Fig. 2 to aposition indicated by letter C. Approximately at position C, eachcylinder moves under a cutoff plate 68 (Fig. l) which is supported infixed position above the turret on the upper end of a center post 69that is mounted at its lower end in non-rotating relation in the fixedbase 21. The cutoff plate 68 has a lower flange 68a disposed in close,sliding contact with an upper surface 52a of the support ring 52 andwith a vertical, cylindrical inner surface 52b of the ring. It will beevident that, when each cylinder moves. under the cutoff plate apredetermined charge of liquid is trapped in the cylinder, and that thecutoff plate acts as an upper wall for the cylinder when the pistontherein moves upwardly to discharge the liquid from the cylinder.

The lower turret member 32 (Fig. 1) comprises an inner tubular portion74, a web 75, and an outer support ring 76. A plurality of verticalslots '77 are formed. in the support ring 76, each slot being arrangedto guide a slide 78 which is connected to the piston 59 disposed in oneof the cylinders 53. A follower roller 85, which is rotatably mounted oneach slide 78, is disposed in engagement with the camming surface of astationary cam ring 88 that is secured by brackets, not shown, to thethree support brackets 40. It will be evident that, as the turretrotates, the slides are moved up and down causing the pistons toreciprocate in the cylinders in timed relation to the movement of theturret.

The liquid stored in each cylinder 53 is discharged into a container C(Fig. 1) that is fed into one of a plurality of pockets 92 (Fig.provided on the turret by spaced fingers of a container pusher ring 93.The ring 93 is a two piece member that is clamped around a cylindersupport ring 94 depending from the turret ring 52. A container is fedinto each pocket 92 by means of a feed wheel 96 (Fig. 1) which is drivenby a shaft 97 from the drive mechanism 22. As seen in Fig. 2, a conveyor98 delivers empty container to the feed wheel, and a conveyor 99removes. the containers from the machine after they are filled.

Each valve assembly 65 (Figs. 4 and 5) comprises a generally cylindricalor tubular housing 125 having a rear projection 126 (Fig. 5) with arecess 127 adapted to receive a peripheral projection 130 formed on theouter support ring 52 of the turret. Each rear projection 126 of thevalve housing has two side flanges 133 and 134 (Fig. 4) and each valvehousing is mounted on the support ring 52 by straps 135, that straddlethe flanges 133 and 134 of adjacent valve bodies, and are secured by tapbolts 140 to the support ring 52. The valve housing has two integrallyformed bosses 142 and 143 with aligned vertical openings, and a thirdboss 145 disposed approximately diametrically opposite the boss 142.

A valve core 150 (Fig. 5), which has a cylindrical portion 151 slidablydisposed in the tubular housing 125, is provided with a lower edge 152and a slot 153, and this slot 153 is arranged to establish communicationbetween passage 64 and a by-pass passage 155 in the valve housingprojection 126, when the slide element 150 is in its lowermost position.As will be explained presently, the by-pass passage 155 is used onlywhen the feed wheel fails to put a container in the pocket below theassociated valve and, when in use, the passage directs the fluiddischarged from the cylinder 53 back to the reservoir. A flange 160,disposed at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 151 of the slideelement 150, abuts the upper surface of the valve housing to define thelowermost position of the slide element. A flattened surface 161 (Fig.8) on the flange 160 abuts a mating flattened surface 162 on the boss145 of the valve housing to prevent rotation of the slide element. Abovethe flange 160, the valve core 150 has a square cross section with ahorizontal slot 166 formed in this portion of the core. As seen in Figs.4and 7, the slot 166 extends inwardly from one side Wall 167 of thecore, and the innermost end of the slot i defined by a slanted wall 168.Above the slot 166, the side wall 167 of the core is cut back to providea relieved portion with a slanted side wall 169. Thus, the upper portionof the core 150 is not square in cross section but has three walls insquared relation adapted to slidably engage three walls of a squaresocket 190 (Fig. 6) formed in a valve actuator 200.

A cam follower roller 202 is mounted on a pin 201 projecting from oneside of the valve actuator 200. As will be explained presently, duringoperation of the machine the valve actuator is continuously reciproeatedvertically between the upper full line position of Fig. 5 and the lowerphantom line of Fig. 5 by means of afixed cam track 203 (Fig. 1) onwhich the roller 202 of each valve actuator 200 rides. Three posts 204(Figs. 1 and 2), each of which is anchored to the base 21 and has a hubportion 204a disposed around one of the post 42, support an annularbracket 205 on which the cam track 203- is secured. A tank cover 206 isalso mounted on the annular bracket 205.

The valve actuator 200 is guided during its vertical movement by meansof a post 207 (Figs. 4 and 6) which is fixed in the valve housing boss145 and projects upwardly therefrom into an aperture in a boss208integrally formed on the actuator 200, and by a spline shaft 215whichprojectsthrough asecond boss 210 on the actuator 4 200 and throughthe bosses 142 and 143 of the valve housing.

In Fig. 5 the slidable valve core is shown in the lowered position itassumes before it reaches the station at which a container is to bepositioned thereunder by the feed wheel 96.

At this time the associated cylinder 53 is full. If a container isdelivered to the turret, the valve core will be locked to the actuator200 in a manner to be explained presently. Then, when the actuator israised by the cam track 203, the valve core is raised, raising the slot153 and the lower end surface 152 of the slide valve to the dotted linepositions shown in Fig. 5. In this raised position of the slide valve,the by-pass passage to the reservoir 66 is closed, and the cylinder 53is in communication with the lower open end of the tubular valvehousing, so that upward movement of the piston 59 in the cylinder willcause a charge of liquid to be discharged into a container C disposedbelow the valve. In accordance with the present invention, means isprovided for latching or looking the valve actuator 200 to the valveslide 150 of a valve assembly each time a container is moved into aturret pocket 92 below that particular valve assembly. It will beevident that if the valve actuator 200 is not latched to the valve core150, the valve core will not be lifted, and the piston will pump theliquid back into the reservoir through the by-pass passage 155.

The mechanism for latching the actuator 200 to the core 150 comprises anarm 235 (Figs. 4 and 6) which lies on the upper surface of the actuator200. The arm 235 has a depending sleeve portion 236 which has acylindrical external surface rotatably mounting the sleeve in an opening237 in the actuator 200, and a splined inner surface that slidablyengages the outer surface of the spline shaft 215. With thisarrangement, the arm is arranged to be pivoted relative to the actuator200 when the spline shaft 215 is oscillated.

The latch arm 235 is moved from the position of Fig. 6, wherein its freeend is disposed part way in a slot 240 (Fig. 4) formed in the actuator200, to the inner position of Fig. 7 wherein the outer slanted end ofthe arm abuts the slanted back wall 241 of the slot 240. It will benoted that the slanted back wall 241 of slot 240 is in substantiallyvertical alignment with the rear wall 168 of the slot 166 in the valvecore 150. Accordingly, if the latch arm 235 is moved to its innerposition when the valve actuator 200 is in its lower position, indicatedin phantom lines in Fig. 5, the latch arm will move into the slot 166and latch the actuator to the slidable valve core 150.

The latch arm is moved to the inner latching position by the engagementof a container with an actuating member in the form of a finger 250which is secured to the lower end of a rod 251. The rod 251 is securedby setscrews 254 in a central bore in the lower end of the rotatablespline shaft 215. Rotation of the spline shaft is resisted by a button260, which is slidably disposed in a recess 261 in the boss 1'43 andforced outwardly against the shaft by a compression spring 265. Thebutton 260 therefore functions as a brake to hold the spline shaft inany turned position. As seen in Fig. 3, the finger 250 is moved to thesolid line position by a container entering the pocket 92. Thespring-loaded button maintains the finger in this withdrawn positionuntil after the container is discharged onto conveyor 99. Approximatelyat the position indicated by arrows 275 (Fig. 2) a cam 276, that ismounted in fixed position below the cam support ring 205, engages alever 277 (Fig. 3), that is clamped on the spline shaft, and cams thatlever into the dotted line position of Fig. 3, moving the finger 250 tothe phantom line position in the path of the next container to be fedinto the pocket.

In Fig. 6, the cam 276 has just actuated the lever in the associatedpocket 92.

this time, the latch arm 235 is withdrawn from the slot 166 of the slidevalve 150 and accordingly, the

actuator is not latched to the associated valve core 150.

When a container is fed into the ,pocket by the feed wheel 96, thefinger 250 is moved rearwardly to the position of Fig. 7 and the latcharm 235 is urged inwardly toward the base of the slot 240 of theactuator 200. In accordance with this invention, at the time a containeris fed into a pocket 92, the fixed cam 203 (Fig. 1) has alreadypermitted the valve actuator 200 to drop to its lowermost position, asshown by the valve assembly at the right side of Fig. 1. Accordingly,when a container enters a pocket and swings the latch arm 235 inwardlyin the .slot 240 of the actuator, the latch arm also moves into the slot166 in thevalve core 150, thus latching the valve core to the actuator.Accordingly, when the cam track 203 next moves the actuator upwardly,the valve core will be moved upwardly and liquid will be discharged intothe container. It will be clear that, if no container is fed into apocket, the finger 250 associated with that pocket will not be contactedand the actuator will not be latched to the slidable valve core of thevalve assembly associated with that pocket. Accordingly, no liquid willbe discharged from that particular valve assembly during the ensuingrotation of the turret.

Referring to. Figure 2, during operation of the machine each valve core150, that is latched to its actuator, is raised to valve open positionapproximately at station A and remains in the raised position until itreaches the vicinity of station B.

It is to be particularly noted that there is a detector finger and latchmechanism provided for each pocket and, therefore, each latch mechanismis independent and may be actuated regardless of whether or not thepreceding pocket is filled. With each latch mechanism mounted forindependent actuation, the turret may be rotated rapidly with no dangerof any container in a pocket remaining unfilled with liquid.

In Figures 9 through 14, a second embodiment of the valve actuatingmechanism of the present invention is illustrated as mounted in adispensing machine 300 (Fig. 11) which includes a stationary supportstructure 301, a powered drive mechanism 302, a vertical drive shaft303, and a turret 304 connected by a key 305 to the drive shaft. Theturret 304 comprises a lower support member 310, on which a plurality ofpistonactuating linkages 311 are mounted, and an upper support member315 which carries a ring 316 having a plurality of pockets 317 (Figs. 12and 13) each of which is arranged to receive a container C to be filled.A generally flat circular plate 320 (Fig. 11) is supported in. spacedrelation above the upper turret member 315 by means of a plurality oftubular posts 321 (Fig. 12) which are rigidly connected, as by welding,to the upper surface of the turret member 315 and to the lower surfaceof the plate 320. The plate 320 forms the bottom wall of a reservoir 325(Fig. 11) which has a cylindrical side wall 326 A container is fed intoeach pocket 317 of the turret by means of a power driven feed wheel 330,and, after being filled, is discharged from the machine onto a conveyor332 (Fig. 9),

A plurality of valve assemblies 340 (Fig, 11) are mounted below theouter peripheral portion of the plate 320, Each valve assembly comprisesan elongated housing 341 (Figs. 12 and 13) which has upper marginal sideflanges .342 and 343 secured to the plate 320 by capscrews 345. Thecapscrews 345 also pass through openings in a flange 347 of anopen-bottom cylinder 349 to secure the cylinder to the upper surface ofthe plate 320 above a port 350 in the plate.

A valve core or body 351 of frusto-conical configuration is mounted forrotary movement about its axis in a suitable opening 352 formed in thevalve housing 341. A passage 353 extends transversely across the valvecore and is adapted to be moved from the full line position of Fig. 13to the phantom line position wherein it establishes communicationbetween a discharge port 354, provided in the lower wall, and a passage357, in the upper wall of the valve housing 341, and with the port 350formed in the plate 320.

Each valve core 351 also includes an angled passage 355 communicating atone end with a passage 356 in the valve housing 341 which, in turn,communicates with the reservoir 325 through an opening 358 in the plate320. At its other end, the angled passage 355 is connected in flowcommunication with the cylinder 349 through the passage 357 in the valvehousing and through the port 350.

The valve core 351 is rotated degrees about its axis, between thecylinder-filling position shown by the valve at the right side of Fig.11, wherein the reservoir 325 is connected to the cylinder 349, and theliquid discharge position shown by the valve at the left side .of Fig.11, by means of a valve actuator 370. The valve actuator 370 (Figs. 12and 13) is in the form of a bellcrank having arms 371 and 372 disposedat right angles to each other, and having a cylindrical hub 373.rotatably journalled on a stub shaft 375 projecting axially from thevalve core 351. A locating pin 376 in the actuator projects into agroove 376a in the valve core 351. The valve core and the actuator areheld in place by a bar 377 (Fig. 12) which straddles adjacent valveassemblies and has a stud locked in a tab 378 (Fig. 14) projecting fromthe valve housing of one of the assemblies.

The valve actuator 370 has a deep groove 380 in its face and this grooveis arranged to be aligned with a similar groove 382 formed in the endface of the stub shaft 375. An elongated rectangular key or latch member385 is adapted to be moved into the grooves 388 and 382 when they aredisposed in aligned relation. The key 385 has a tubular extension 386which is slidably disposed in a cylindrical opening in the valve core. Acompression spring 390 is positioned in the bore of the extension 386and is arranged to be compressed when the key is moved inwardly into thealigned grooves to connect the valve actuator in driving relation withthe valve body.

The key 385 is moved inwardly by means of an empty container, as thecontainer enters the associated pocket of the turret, through a linkage400 which includes a lever 401 (Fig. 14) whose forked upper end has arms402 and 403 (Fig. 12) pivotally mounted by pins 404 (one only beingshown in Fig. 14) on opposite sides of the valve housing 341. Acontainer-contacting bar 405 has a shank 406 clamped in adjustedposition in the lower end of the lever 401. Near its upper end, the forkarm 403 is pivotally connected to a link 410 which is pivoted to a pushrod 411. The push rod is slidably journalled in apertured bosses 412 and413 formed on the valve housing 341. A connecting bar 414 (Fig. 12 issecured, as by a press fit, to one end of the push rod and to a reduceddiameter end portion of the key 385. It will be evident that, if thegrooves 380 and 382 are in aligned position, when a container contactsthe linkage 400 and pivots it counterclockwise (Fig. 14), the key willbe moved into the aligned grooves against the resistance of the spring390. .When the container is discharged from the pocket, the spring 390will swing the linkage clockwise into position overlying the pocket 317,and ready to be actuated by the next container fed into the turret,

During operation of the machine, each valve actuator 370 is rotatedbetween cylinder-filling position and container-filling during itsmovements around the machine by a pair of cams 425 and 426 (Fig. 10)which are mounted adjacent the outer faces of the valve assemblies bymeans of posts 430 (Fig. 9). These posts 430, which are supported infixed position from the base 301 in the same manner as the posts 204 ofFig. 1, also support a reservoir cover 435. The cam track defined by thecams 425 and 426 is such that, as each valve assembly approaches stationA (Fig. 9) a follower roller 436 (Fig. 10) on the arm 372 of the valveactuator 370, engages an inclined cam portion "425a of the cam. 4-25causing the valve actuator to be rotated 90 degrees. If the key 385 hasbeen moved into the aligned grooves, the valve body will also be rotated90 degrees from the cylinder filling position to the discharge position.When the valve assembly reaches station B (Fig. 9.), an inclined camportion 42612 engages a follower roller 43% on the arm 371 of theactuator causing the valve actuator 370 to be rotated in the oppositedirection bringing the conical valve body back to cylinder fillingposition. As the valve assembly moves from station B back to station A,the cams 425 and 426 hold the valve body in the cylinder fillingposition.

Simultaneously with the movement of the valve to discharge position atstation A, a piston 450 (Fig. 11) in the associated cylinder 349 ismoved downwardly to force the liquidthrough the valve and into thecontainer. Each piston 450 is secured to the lower end of a rod 452whose upper end is connected by a bar 453 to the upper end of a verticalshaft 454 that is slidably disposed in one of the support tubes 321.Aligned apertures, not shown, are provided in the plate 320 and in theturret member 315 to permit passage of the shaft 454 whose lower end ispivotally connected to an arm 458 carried by a sleeve 460. The sleeve460 is slidably disposed on an upstanding post 461 that is secured tothe lower turret member 310, and a roller, which is rotatably mounted onthe sleeve 460, rides in a stationary cam track 465 supported from thebase 301 by a bracket 466. With this arrangement, rotation of the turretmember 310 causes reciprocation of the piston in each cylinder. The camtrack 465 is so designed that the piston is moved downwardly while theassociated valve assembly moves from station A to station B and is thenmoved upwardly as the valve is returned to cylinder charging position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides a valve latching mechanism that is simple inconstruction but is positive in its latching engagement. The provisionof a separate container detector and latching mechanism for each pocketof the turret assures the filling of each container in the turret evenwhen the turret is operated at high rotary speeds. In the followingclaims the term receptacle will be used to indicate the pocket of theturret and the space adjacent the pocket that is occupied by a containerin the pocket.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filling machine, a valve housing, a valve core movable in saidhousing toward and away from a valve open position, a valve actuatormounted for movement through a predetermined range of movement adjacentsaid valve core, means for periodically moving said valve actuatorthrough said predetermined range of movement, means defining a socket insaid valve core, means defining a container receptacle beneath saidvalve housing, a container detector mounted on said housing for movementbetween a position withdrawn from said receptacle and a positionprojecting into said receptacle to be contacted and moved out of saidreceptacle by a container entering the receptacle, a lock-ing memberadjacent said valve actuator and arranged for movement relative to saidactuator into the socket of said valve core to lock said actuator andsaid core for unitary movement, and means interconnecting said lockingmember and said detector whereby movementofsaid detector by an enteringcontainer is effective to move said locking member intothe socketof'said valve core.

2. In afilling machine, a valve housing. a valve core movable in saidhousing toward and" away from a valve open position and having anelongated socket therein, a valve actuator mounted for movement througha predetermined range of movement adjacent said valve core, means forperiodically moving said valve actuator through said predetermined rangeof movement, means defining a socket in said valve actuator arranged tobe aligned with the socket in said valve core, means defining acontainer receptacle beneath said valve housing, a container detectormounted on said housing for movement between a position withdrawn fromsaid receptacle and a position projecting into said receptacle to becontacted and moved out of said receptacle by a container entering thereceptacle, a locking member'supported by said valve core and arrangedto be moved into the sockets of'said' core and said actuator when saidsockets are in aligned relation, and means interconnecting said detectorand said locking member so that movement of said detector out of saidreceptacle in response. to movement of a container into the receptacleeffects movement of said locking member into said aligned sockets.

3. In a filling machine, a valve housing, a frustoconical valve corerotatably mounted in said housing, said. core having a cylindricalextension projecting externally of said housing, means defining anelongated slot transversely in the end surface of said extension, avalve actuator rotatably mounted on said valve core extension, said.actuator having a pair of slots aligned with the slot in said extension,means defining a container receptacle beneath said valve housing, acontainer detector mounted on said housing for pivotal movement. betweena. position withdrawn from said receptacle and a position projectinginto said receptacle to be contacted and moved to said Withdrawnposition by a container entering the receptacle, an elongated keyslidably mounted on the extension of said core and arranged to be. movedinto said slots when said slots are in aligned relation, and meansinterconnecting said detector and said key in such a manner thatmovement of said detector to said withdrawn position moves said key intosaid aligned slots.

4. In a filling machine, a valve housing, a cylindrical valve coreslidably mounted in said housing, means defining a slot in said valvecore, a valve actuator mounted. for sliding movement on said housing andon said valve core and having a slot arranged to be aligned with theslot in said valve core, a shaft rotatably mounted in said valvehousing, a key secured to said shaft, means for sliding said valveactuator to a position wherein said slots are in. alignment, meansdefining a container receptacle below said valve housing, a containerdetector mounted for movement between a position projecting across saidreceptacle in the path of a container entering said receptacle to aposition withdrawn from said receptacle, means for moving. said detectorinto said receptacle, and means interconnecting said detector and saidkey whereby engagement and movement of said detector by a containerentering said receptacle effects movement of said key into said alignedslots.

5. In a filling machine, a valve housing having a cylindrical bore, anelongated cylindrical valve core slidably mounted in said bore andhaving a portion of' square cross-section with a transverse slottherein, a post carried by said housing, a spline shaft rotatablymounted in said housing and projecting parallel to said post, a valveactuator slidably journalled on said post said core are in alignment,and means for moving said. key into said aligned slots to lock: saidcore and said.

actuator for unitary movement relative to said housing.

6. In a" filling machine, a valve housing having a frustoconical bearingsurface, a frusto-conical valve core rotatably journalled in saidhousing and having a cylindrical projection exteriorly. of said housing,means defining a cylindricalrecess and a slot in the end surface of saidprojection, a valve actuator having a tubular hub journalled forrotation on said core projection, said actuator halvinga slot adapted tobe aligned with the slot in said core projection, a key having a shankportion slidably journalled in said cylindrical recess and an elongatedlocking portion adapted to be moved into the slot in said coreprojection and into the slot in said actuator when said slots are inaligned relation, and spring means connected between said key shank andsaid actuator for urging said key to a position withdrawn from saidslots.

7. In a filling machine, a generally horizontal circular plate having aplurality of spaced circular openings disposed around the peripherythereof, an open bottomed cylinder mounted on said plate over eachopening, a piston in each cylinder, a valve housing mounted below eachcylinder and having an opening communicating with the cylinder throughthe associated opening in the plate, a valve core adjustably positionedin said housing, means defining a container receptacle beneath eachvalve housing, a container detector disposed in each receptacle andarranged to be contacted and moved out of the receptacle by an enteringcontainer, a valve actuator associated with each valve core, means forperiodically reciprocating said actuator through a predetermined rangeof movement, means responsive to actuation of each detector by acontainer entering the associated receptacle for locking the associatedvalve actuator to the valve core, a linkage extending down into eachcylinder through the open upper end thereof into operative engagementwith the piston therein, cam means for periodically reciprocating saidlinkage to actuate the piston in the cylinder, and means coordinatingthe actuation of said piston and the movement of the associated valvecore in its housing.

8. In a machine of the type in which each of a plurality of fillingvalves is mounted above a separate container pocket of a rotatableturret, the improvement which comprises a movable container detectordisposed in each pocket and arranged to be moved out of said pocket by acontainer entering the pocket, a valve actuator adjacent each valve,means for periodically moving said actuator through a fixed range ofmovement in timed relation with the rotary movement of the turret, alocking member arranged for movement toward and away from a positionconnecting said actuator in driving engagement with said valve, meansinterconnecting said container detector and said locking member andarranged to move said member to the position connecting said actuator indriving engagement with said valve as said detector is moved out of saidpocket by an entering container, and automatic brake means operativelyconnccted between said valve and said locking member for holding saidlocking member in any adjusted position.

9. In a filling machine, a valve housing, a cylindrical valve coreslidably mounted in said housing, means defining a slot in said valvecore, a valve actuator mounted for sliding movement on said housingandhaving a slot arranged to be aligned with the slot in said valvecore, a shaft rotatably mounted in said valve housing, a key secured tosaid shaft, means for sliding said valve actuator to a position whereinsaid slots are in alignment, means defining a container receptacle belowsaid valve housing, a container detector mounted for movement between aposition projecting across said receptacle in the path of a containerentering said receptacle to a position withdrawn from said receptacle,cam means for moving said detector into said receptacle, meansinterconnecting said detector and said key whereby engagement andmovement of said detector by a container entering said receptacleeffects movement of said key into said aligned slots, a brake elementslidably disposed in said valve housing adjacent said detector, andspring means disposed between said housing and said brake element andarranged to urge said element into engagement with said detector to holdsaid detector in the position to which it is moved by said cam means orsaid entering container.

10. In a filling machine, a valve housing, a valve core rotatablymounted in said housing, said core having an extension projectingexternally of said housing, means defining a shoulder transversely inthe end surface of said extension, a valve actuator rotatably mounted onsaid valve core extension, said actuator having a pair of shouldersaligned with the shoulder in said extension, means defining a containerreceptacle beneath said valve housing, a container detector mounted onsaid housing for pivotal movement between a position withdrawn from saidreceptacle and a position projecting into said receptacle to becontacted and moved to said withdrawn position by a container enteringthe receptacle, a key slidably mounted on the extension of said core andarranged to be moved into engagement with said shoulders when saidshoulders are in aligned relation, and means interconnecting saiddetector and said key in such a manner that movement of said detector tosaid withdrawn position moves said key into engagement with said alignedshoulders.

11. In a filling machine, a valve housing having a cylindrical bore, anelongated cylindrical valve core slidably mounted in said bore andhaving a portion of non-cylindrical cross-section with a transverseshoulder therein, a post carried by said housing, a splined shaftrotatably mounted in said housing and projecting in a direction parallelto said post, a valve actuator slidably journalled on said post and onsaid splined shaft and having an opening adapted to receive thenon-cylindrical portion of said valve core, means defining a shoulder insaid actuator extending transversely over said non-cylindrical opening,a key splined on said shaft and disposed in transverse alignment withthe shoulder in said actuator, means for sliding said actuator to aposition wherein the shoulder in said actuator and the shoulder in saidcore are in alignment, and means for moving said key into engagementwith said aligned shoulders to lock said core and said actuator forunitary movement relative to said housing.

12. in a filling machine, a valve housing, a valve core mounted in saidhousing, means defining a driving surface on said core, a valve actuatormounted adjacent said valve core, said actuator having a driving surfaceadjacent the driving surface of said core, means for periodically movingsaid valve actuator, means defining a container receptacle beneath saidvalve housing, a container detector mounted on said housing for pivotalmovement between a position withdrawn from said receptacle and aposition project-ing into said receptacle to be contacted and moved tosaid withdrawn position by a container entering the receptacle, a drivemember mounted adjacent said core and said actuator and arranged to bemoved into engagement with the driving surfaces of said actuator and ofsaid core when said driving surfaces are in planar alignment, and meansinterconnecting said detector and said drive member in such a mannerthat movement of said detector to said withdrawn position moves saiddrive member into engagement with said driving surfaces.

13. In a filling machine, a generally horizontal circular plate having aplurality of spaced circular openings disposed around the peripherythereof, an open ended cylinder mounted on said plate in alignment andin communication with each opening, a piston in each cylinder, a valvehousing mounted adjacent each cylinder and having an openingcommunicating with the cylinder, a valve core adjustably positioned insaid housing, means defining a container receptacle beneath each valvehousing, a container detector disposed in each receptacle and arrangedto be contacted and moved out of the receptacle by an enteringcontainer, a valve actuator associated with each valve core, means forperiodically reciprocating said actu- References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Riley Aug. 24, 1909 Mojonnier et a1.Mar. 10, 1931 Meyer July 3, 1934 McKinnis Jan. 1, 1946 Bnidge Aug. 5,1952 Bingham Apr. 19, 1955

